Outsourcing editing might put some of our more under-appreciated newspaper employees out of work, but it may stave of what many predict to be impending doom for newspapers.
But according to an E&P article from nearly three weeks ago, there is nothing that would indicate that this drastic move would do much to make a dent into this major problem. E&P reports:
Plus, I have to say there's nothing quite like having that seasoned night editor looking over your copy right in front of you--almost daring you to get something wrong. The intimidation makes the journalists better. It makes the newspaper better.
Steven S. Duke, an associate professor at the Medill School of Journalism who works with newspapers as managing director for training at the Readership Institute, isn't so sure the industry has gotten the message, even now. "I haven't seen anything I would call radical, despite all the talk," he asserts. At Institute training sessions, he has noticed a change in demands that tells him newspapers are still not ready for fundamental change: "They used to say, 'Tell me who's doing this, and if it's working to increase readership.' Now what they say is, 'Tell me who's doing this — and making money at it.' Everyone wants promises that risks they take will bring in dollars — and, of course, nobody can do that."
3 comments:
It is sad that everything has become a number crunch. Perhaps I am being naive and optimistic, but if newspapers focused on making the paper itself better, wouldn't the dollar signs start to roll in? Trying to save money, whether it be through outsourcing or another method, seems to be only digging newspapers in deeper than they already are.
I agree 100%.
There is nothing like having an editor look over your work. If everything I wrote in rough form went to press, people would assume that I was partially illiterate. I don't even really edit on a blog, I just make sure that the things spelled wrong are spellchecked and I'm good to go.
But I think that is the point: The internet and print are different mediums of communication and because we have grown up through the transition of the internet, we are hesitant to believe everything we read there.
With the future of Journalism unsure, migrating more and more towards internet publication, copy editors may not be needed, but it will take away from the respectability of the writing.
Because as you say, there is nothing like having a copy editor read your work.
I completely agree with you and the article. There is nothing like a seasoned editor looking over your shoulder or there to yell at you for making mistakes. When they across the world, the idea of making mistakes is a lot less scary. This may cause many more mistakes to be made, along with reporters not being able to learn from their mistakes or ask questions.
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